Tragic Motorcycle Crash Kills One in Greenville County, South Carolina (SC)

GREENVILLE COUNTY, SC - Wyff4.com writes that police filed charges following a fatal crash in Greenville County this week. The incident took place in the early evening on Piedmont Highway when a woman tried to pull out of a private driveway and collided with the motorcyclist.*

The victim, identified as a 50-year-old man, was killed at the scene of the crash. The 82-year-old woman driving the car is now facing charges for failure to yield. 

Motorcycles present certain inherent dangers. Studies indicate that the risk of dying in a motorcycle crash is much higher than the danger of dying in a crash while riding in a car or other passenger vehicle. Riding a motorcycle is more difficult than driving a car, and requires more skill, balance, and coordination. 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that wearing a helmet is one of the best ways for a motorcyclist to mitigate the risks they face on the road. Wearing a helmet lowers the chances of dying in a crash by 37 percent, and cuts down on the risk of a brain injury as well. 

While motorcycle deaths dropped in the last couple of years, the number killed in 2018 was over two times the number of victims in 1997. In 2018, 4,985 people died in motorcycle collisions. In 2016, there were well over 5,000 fatalities reported indicating that last year's numbers, while still high, may indicate a positive downward trend. 

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) writes that antilock brakes are another form of safety equipment that helps to reduce the risks posed to motorcyclists. The chances of being in a fatal motorcycle crash drop by 31 percent if a bike has ABS as compared to models that lack this feature. 

Accident News is a safety and education initiative from Montlick & Associates, designed to help people better understand and thereby avoid common accident causes.  To learn more about our injury prevention programs, including iridesafe.com - click here. We hope you are never in an accident, but if you or a family member are injured, call Montlick & Associates 24/7 for your free consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333) or use our live chat at Montlick.com.

Sources:

https://www.wyff4.com/article/82-year-old-charged-in-deadly-motorcycle-crash-troopers-say/32860339

https://www.iihs.org/topics/motorcycles